In a recent CNN panel discussion, concerns were raised as new polling data revealed President Joe Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in several key battleground states, sparking alarm for the Biden administration. The “State of the Union” panelists engaged in a candid conversation regarding the implications of these poll results for the White House and the Democratic Party.
Just consider how much Americans hate and distrust the country’s leading institutions when Trump — indicted on felony charges in 4 different jurisdictions — leads Biden this way in key swing states.
Americans understand DOJ and media are hopelessly politicized and corrupted: https://t.co/vEEOSPHVVY
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 5, 2023
Former senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Karen Finney, acknowledged that while the poll results appeared consistent with historical trends in presidential campaigns, they should serve as a wake-up call for the Biden campaign. She stressed the importance of delving deeper into the data to understand the underlying reasons behind the numbers, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to engage with young voters and voters of color.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, expressed her apprehension about the President trailing in diverse swing states. She underscored the influence of perception on voter behavior, asserting that people’s feelings often dictate their reality. She suggested that, despite facts not aligning with these sentiments, many individuals felt better during Trump’s presidency, and it was imperative for Democrats to address this perception gap.
Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett says Biden’s drop in support among Black Americans is because “feelings are dictating their reality” and they aren’t “understanding exactly how any of this works” pic.twitter.com/QtWcJnyxsh
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 5, 2023
Former Republican congresswoman Barbara Comstock weighed in, arguing that the “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) message might not prove successful in general elections, alluding to the need for a broader appeal to voters beyond the Trump base.
Former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock on CNN this morning:
“MAGA has been a real loser for Republicans.” pic.twitter.com/n7W42cGSFM
— Ammar Moussa (@ammarmufasa) November 5, 2023
Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson added an intriguing perspective, noting that despite personal disapproval of Trump, many Americans still believed he was more beneficial for their financial well-being. She highlighted the importance of economic considerations and suggested that President Biden’s messaging on “Bidenomics” needed to resonate with voters as prices continued to rise.
The concern over the polling data is substantiated by a recent New York Times-Siena College poll, which indicated that former President Trump holds significant leads over President Biden in five out of the six crucial battleground states. Trump leads by 10 points in Nevada, six points in Georgia, and five points in both Arizona and Michigan. Additionally, he maintains a four-point lead in Pennsylvania, with President Biden only holding a two-point advantage in Wisconsin. Notably, President Biden had won all six of these states during the 2020 election.
